Flos Venenatus

3. Research

Lulu pov

Beginning of summer and the half the sky covered in grey clouds...
Strange for most people, but it was something this village was used to. They didn't know the cause of it but they'd just assumed it was some relic or curse on the land, something that was very common in today's world. Tourists definitely found it slightly infuriating, but that just made the townspeople more thankful for keeping the quaint little village.... well... quaint.

I made my way to my cover up job at the hair salon. It made the townspeople question me less, especially since I just showed up some day. I had actually gotten quite popular here, with my job at the salon.

I walked throught the doors and greeted Amy who was at the till. I headed to the back to put my stuff away.

I didn't cut hair or clean the floors or any of the normal stuff but instead I was a human mirror. It was actually a pretty nifty idea, I keep my actual sector confidential by pretending to be a shape-shifter, a new sector that not much is know about. Not many people knew that Sirens can shape-shift so I got a stable job. People would tell me what hair they were thinking of, dying it a colour or cutting it, and I would shape-shift into an exact replica of them plus the new addition. I would then alter the colour slightly or length until they thought it looked good. Frequently I get asked for what it would look like after a shower or what colour the hair would fade into, and I turn into it to showcase their queries. It wasn't very time consuming or draining but I got paid well and gained popularity from it.

Changing into my uniform, I could already hear the bustle of the salon, all waiting for me to come out and help them. With a sigh, I walked out and got ready for the busy day ahead.

♤~♤~♤~♤~♤~♤~♤~♤~♤~♤

As I walked out the front door, my face was met with a light drizzle. I will probably have to leave this afternoon, just to be safe. I will also have to contact anyone I've been in touch with and let them know I will be gone for a few days for a 'business trip'.

Might as well get some research done while I'm gone for my real job. By day I work at the hair salon, by night I work as a researcher for a book writer about the sectors.

Its good enough for me, they keep my identity a secret and I give them research for the book. Considering Sirens are looked down on...

I walk throught the door of my comfortable, beachfront cabin. I drop my stuff at the door and head to the bathroom to take a quick cold shower to clear my thoughts before getting into my work. I leave the bathroom dressed in my comfy pjs, grab my phone and head to my work desk upstairs.

Texting people of importance is the first thing on my agenda. These include the salon, informing them of my departure for these coming weekdays. The writer of the research book that will be collecting more data about the shapeshifter sector as its brand new.

As I finished talking to my bosses I noticed I got a new text. Upon closer inspection I found that it was from that cute lady I meet a week ago.

《¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡》

Hello! How was your
week? :3

It was just peachy. Pretty
hectic though. What bout u?

Excellent! My week was
pretty boring tho. You wanna
hang out tomorrow? :)

Sorry but Im leaving town
for a few day on a business
trip. Definitely some
other time tho. ;)

Oh... :(. Thats okay.
See you later!

《¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡》

That was cute.

I get up and pack my bag with the things I will need. I grab some extra clothes, my brush, my other waterproof phone that I use for research and a map.

I decided that I will venture past the Neko region into the Latican Ocean. Past interviews with the couple of shapeshifters that moved here suggest that their land was in that direction. My echolocation will prove useful, but I hope not to run into any Sirens from the Latican Kingdom. That would not be satisfactory....

Considering that the only thing I can eat in my Siren form is the aura of dead creatures, I don't have to pack food, but I will prepare my breakfast before that.

I read over my most recent piece of data about the shapeshifters.

°•°•°•°•°•°

13th April, year: 11325

Specimen: Shapeshifter- not yet confirmed

Name: Dvita Acentish

Age: Over 100.

Pronouns: they/them

Met them at Costa coffee shop. Before first meeting they asked for a photo. Arrived to see them shaped into me.

From first conversation, they seem calm and collected. When asked about changing into their orginal form, they said they prefer to do it more private as their appearance may disturb others.

Asked about their homeland and why they moved here; the first place they saw "place full of people with cat ears and tails or just full cat!" (Neko district).

Reason for emigration: "Everyone I know is nice, but there is not a lot of stuff. No money and nothing to but with it. Parents passed away and I have no sibling so I decided its time for something new"

When asked about their age, the metioned its been so long that they dont remember exact digits. Passingly mumbled being over 100.

Will set up another meeting. Get more information, gain their trust and hopefully friendship. Will do it in a more private setting, as to hopefully get the appearance.

Attached is the audio recording of our conversation and 2 photos.

-Lulu.

°•°•°•°•°•°

This is going to be a long 5 days......

________

Hey guys, finally a new chapter. I am changing my style of writing so if the next couple of chapters seem different thats why.

See you on the flipside.
-Mad